第103章BOOKTHETHIRD：THETRACKOFASTORM(18)

第103章bookthethird：thetrackofastorm(18)

slightlyobservantofthesmokylights；ofthepeoplepipeinmouth，playingwithlimpcardsandyellowdominoes；oftheonebare-breasted，bare-armed，soot-begrimedworkmanreadingajournalaloud，andoftheotherslisteningtohim；oftheweaponsworn，orlaidasidetoberesumed；ofthetwoorthreecustomersfallenforwardasleep，whointhepopularhigh-shoulderedyblackspencerlooked，inthatattitude，likeslumberingbearsordogs；thetwooutlandishcustomersapproachedthecounter，andshowedwhattheywanted.

astheirwinewasmeasuringout，amanpartedfromanothermaninacorner，androsetodepart.ingoing，hehadtofacemisspross.nosoonerdidhefaceher，thanmissprossutteredascream，andclappedherhands.

inamoment，thewholecompanywereontheirfeet.thatsomebodywasassassinatedbysomebodyvindicatingadifferenceofopinionwasthelikeliestoccurrence.everybodylookedtoseesomebodyfall，butonlysawamanandawomanstandingstaringateachother；themanwithalltheoutwardaspectofafrenchmanandathoroughrepublican；thewoman，evidentlyenglish.

whatwassaidinthisdisappointinganti-climax，bythedisciplesofthegoodrepublicanbrutusofantiquity，exceptthatitwassomethingveryvolubleandloud，wouldhavebeenassomuchhebreworchaldeantomissprossandherprotector，thoughtheyhadbeenallears.but，theyhadnoearsforanythingintheirsurprise.for，itmustberecorded，thatnotonlywasmissprosslostinamazementandagitation，but，mr.cruncher—thoughitseemedonhisownseparateandindividualaccount—wasinastateofthegreatestwonder.

'whatisthematter？'saidthemanwhohadcausedmissprosstoscream；speakinginavexed，abruptvoice（thoughinalowtone），andinenglish.

'oh，solomon，dearsolomon！'criedmisspross，clappingherhandsagain.'afternotsettingeyesuponyouorhearingofyouforsolongatime，doifindyouhere！'

'don'tcallmesolomon.doyouwanttobethedeathofme？'askedtheman，inafurtive，frightenedway.

'brother，brother！'criedmisspross，burstingintotears.'haveieverbeensohardwithyouthatyouaskmesuchacruelquestion？'

'thenholdyourmeddlesometongue，'saidsolomon，'andcomeout，ifyouwanttospeaktome.payforyourwine，andcomeout.who'sthisman？'

misspross，shakingherlovinganddejectedheadatherbynomeansaffectionatebrother，saidthroughhertears，'mr.cruncher.'

'lethimcomeouttoo，'saidsolomon.'doeshethinkmeaghost？'

apparently，mr.cruncherdid，tojudgefromhislooks.hesaidnotaword，however，andmisspross，exploringthedepthsofherreticulethroughhertearswithgreatdifficulty，paidforherwine.asshedidso，solomonturnedtothefollowersofthegoodrepublicanbrutusofantiquity，andofferedafewwordsofexplanationinthefrenchlanguage，whichcausedthemalltorelapseintotheirformerplacesandpursuits.

'now，'saidsolomon，stoppingatthedarkstreetcorner，'whatdoyouwant？'

'howdreadfullyunkindinabrothernothinghaseverturnedmyloveawayfrom！'criedmisspross，'togivemesuchagreeting，andshowmenoaffection.'

'there.con-foundit！there，'saidsolomon，makingadabatmisspross'slipswithhisown.'nowareyoucontent？'

missprossonlyshookherheadandweptinsilence.

'ifyouexpectmetobesurprised，'saidherbrothersolomon，'iamnotsurprised；iknewyouwerehere；iknowofmostpeoplewhoarehere.ifyoureallydon'twanttoendangermyexistence—whichihalfbelieveyoudo—goyourwaysassoonaspossible，andletmegomine.iambusy.iamanofficial.'

'myenglishbrothersolomon，'mournedmisspross，castinguphertear-fraughteyes，'thathadthemakingsinhimofoneofthebestandgreatestofmeninhisnativecountry，anofficialamongforeigners，andsuchforeigners！iwouldalmostsoonerhaveseenthedearboylyinginhis—'

'isaidso！'criedherbrother，interrupting.'iknewit.youwanttobethedeathofme.ishallberenderedsuspected，bymyownsister.justasiamgettingon！'

'thegraciousandmercifulheavensforbid！'criedmisspross.'farratherwouldineverseeyouagain，dearsolomon，thoughihaveeverlovedyoutruly，andevershall.saybutoneaffectionatewordtome，andtellmethereisnothingangryorestrangedbetweenus，andiwilldetainyounolonger.'

goodmisspross！asiftheestrangementbetweenthemhadcomeofanyculpabilityofhers.asifmr.lorryhadnotknownitforafactyearsago，inthequietcornerinsoho，thatthispreciousbrotherhadspenthermoneyandlefther！hewassayingtheaffectionateword，however，withafarmoregrudgingcondescensionandpatronagethanhecouldhaveshowniftheirrelativemeritsandpositionshadbeenreversed（whichisinvariablythecase，alltheworldover），whenmr.cruncher，touchinghimontheshoulder，hoarselyandunexpectedlyinterposedwiththefollowingsingularquestion：

'isay！mightiaskthefavour？astowhetheryournameisjohnsolomon，orsolomonjohn？'

theofficialturnedtowardshimwithasuddendistrust.hehadnotpreviouslyutteredaword.

'come！'saidmr.cruncher.'speakout，youknow.'（which，bytheway，wasmorethanhecoulddohimself）'johnsolomon，orsolomonjohn？shecallsyousolomon，andshemustknow，beingyoursister.andiknowyou'rejohn，youknow.whichofthetwogoesfirst？andregardingthatnameofpross，likewise.thatwarn'tyournameoverthewater.'

'whatdoyoumean？'

'well，idon'tknowallimean，forican'tcalltomindwhatyournamewas，overthewater.'

'no？'

'no.buti'llswearitwasanameoftwosyllables.'

'indeed？'

'yes.t'otherone'swasonesyllable.iknowyou.youwasaspy-witnessatthebailey.what，inthenameofthefatheroflies，ownfathertoyourself，wasyoucalledatthattime？'

'barsad，'saidanothervoice，strikingin.